Concrete bridge construction.



W. M. THOMAS.

CONCRETE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24-, 1911.

Patented May 19, 1914.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

W. M. THOMAS.

CONCRETE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911,

1097 269, Patented May 19, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

GGHGRETE BRIEGE CUNEIEUGTZGN.

menses.

Application filed January 24, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l hnmnrr M. a citizen of the United States, residing at Oceanside, in the county of San Diego and State of California,'heveinvenied a new and usefulConcrete Bridge Construction, of which the foilowing is e specification. I The main object the present invention is to eliminate as much as possible the use of false WOIk or centering required for monolithicconstrnction of bridges. This I accomplish by ji'orming the elements of the bridge, including the arch rihsepcndrcl sections and floor beams, in POSltlOl'lS other than that of final occupancy and then seinbling such elements in their final posisions and connecting them together by steel fties cnd mclded joints so that they are held in rigid connection and in such manner {IS to resist both tensile and compressive strains. By such procedure. the cost of molding the parts is largely reduced for the reason that innch of the exnense ofrnolding the concrete bridge constructions by the monolithic sys- {com is represented in the staging or false Work required to support the molds in their ing the cement proper positions and by molding the ele ments concretely no such supports for the molds are. required.

Another object of the invention is to rovide s. concrete bridge construction in which the scversi elements nsinely, the 2 ch beams, spsndrel sections and ribs, are pro vided with means for temporary support of the molding devices for tcnipoinrily hold- "for joining said elements to gether and completing the structure.

Uther objects of the invention poor hereinafter. I

The accompanying drawings iliuslrate the invention, and referring thereto:

,Figure 1 is a perspective of it portion oi: the bridge construction. showing the floor in process of formation. Fig. 2 is i. frugmentary section, showing the manner of a-ttsching the spcnclrel section to the arch rib. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, oione span of the bridge. dis a section on line w en in *3. .i 'ig. 5 is a transverse section. showing construction of spendrel section adapted for use Where there are more hen two arch rihs.

' Fig. 6 is a longitudinal. section, showing the arched for rn.

construction Where 7 is erecction on e m in E13. 6.

Specification of Letters seem.

will zip-- 1 I Patente 1 Meg.

Serial No. 604,434.

1 Referring to Fig. 3, l designstcs the piers Tacitus.

or supports for the spans of the bridge, the arch ribs springing from said piers or suoports, 3 the spsndrel sections resting on said arch beams, i the longitudinal iioor ribs, and 5 the floor. Curb beams G are provided at each side extending longitudinally of the bridge and resting on the spandrel sections. The arch ribs 2 are of reinforced concrete having longitudinal reinforcing inernbers 7 and being provided. at their ends with means for seatin on the piers or abut merits and being further provided at intervals along their length with horizontal ledges or seats 11 to receive the spandrel sections. lncnse the three-hinge arch construction is Used, the said arch ribs will be formed in two members for en ch span, meetand hinging together at their upper ends and restingnt their lower ends on the piers by a. hinge support, but it will be understood that my invent-ion is not limited to such construction. @iic spandrel sections 3 are also of reinforced concrete and? may he of the same general construction throughout the bridge. being adopted to rest on the arch ribs i; and to support the floor beams i and Whereimch-spandrel sections are of any considers-hi5 height they are formed as open ironies, as shown in i. Wll'll a spcndrel post 8 at eechsidc connected at top end bot torn by upper and lower transverse members 9 and 10. The lower ends of the spnndrel posts 5 are formed as iist surfaces 18 adepted to res; on seats 11 on the arch ribs 2 and soiil spsndrel posts may he provided with vertical metallic he ts 1:2 molded therein end extending through holes 12 in too arch ribs 9., nuts 13' being screwed on. the lovver ends of said posts to hold the spcndrel sections in position on the arch ribs. ihe arch grihs 2 are provided, with. eyes 1% having I said eyes being disposed in such manner as i to receive the hook-shaped ends 16 of -reinforcing rods 16 molded in the lower incinhers 10 of the spnndrel: sections. The lower transverse member 16 oil the spandrei secrods in also ernbcndinc at their ends into lin .Mcr reinforcing rod in 1 their shanks 15 molded into the arch rihs,-

tion preferably dips cowmvard from: its horizontal end portions which rest on the ii aforesaid. the 1% on =-rch ribs extend into the 2% he- V arch ribs and the do riding nor;

the snendrci section, the cior said into the arch beams 2. The spandrel section may be further provided with obliquely extending reinforcing rods 24 and wit transverse perforations 25, said perforations serving to receive the bolts for temporarily supporting the molding members, as herein after set forth. Arch ribs 2 and the transverse members 10 of the spandrel sections are further provided with rods 26 and 27 projecting therefrom into the spaces 20 aforesaid, so as to be embedded in the cement and to tie the spandrel sections to the arch ribs 2. At their upper ends the spandrel sections maybe provided with metallic loops 29 having their ends molded into the concrete sections, said loops being adapted to be engaged by the lifting devices for raising the spandrel sections into place. The upper spandrel sections near the top of the arch are of such small vertical dimensions that they may be formed as a single member, as shown in Fig. at, the construction of this transverse member being similar to that of the lower transverse member for the open frame spandrel section as regards its means for support on the arch ribs, the two transverse members 9 and 10 being in effect coalesced into one transverse member 10 in this form of the spandrel section. In each case the spandrel section may be provided with corbels 30 adapted to support the curbs and the overhanging part of the bridge floor.

The bridge flooring comprises longitudinal beams resting on the top of the spandrel sections and perforated to receive bolts 31 extending up from the spandrel sections 3, nuts 32 being screwed on said bolts to hold the said longitudinal beams in position. The curb beams 6 are similarly held in position by bolts 31" and nuts 32, said bolts 31' extending up from the spandrel sections 3. The floor beams 4 and curb beams 6 are further provided with loops 33 molded thereinto for engaging lifting devices for raising said beams into place and with upwardly projecting rods 35 to enter the molded-floor for tying the floor and beams together. Said floor beams 4 and curb beams 6 are further provided with horizontally extending flanges 37 and 36 at their lower portions, adapted to receive and support temporary molding means, such as boards indicated at 38, for supporting the floor during the molding operation. Said floor beams 4 and curb beams 6 are of reinforced concrete construction, be-

ing provided with reinforcing members 39 and said beams are molded in any suitable position adjacent to the location of the bridge, but not in situ. The said floor beams i 4 may be of uniform cross section, or, as shown in Fig. 6, they may be arched between the spandrel sections, such portion of the floor beams extending down to form spandrels 40 separated from the respective spandrel sections 3 by spaces 41 adapted to receive cement, as hereinafter set forth, and said spandrel portions of the floor beams and the spandrel posts being perforated, as at 42, for receiving the bolts for securing the molding members in place. The floor, indicated at 5, may be molded on top of said beams, as shown in Fig. 1, or, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the beams, indicated at 4, may extend up part way through the floor. Reinforce rods or members 43 extend from the beam into the floor.

To facilitate holding the longitudinal beams 40 in place while they are being joined to-the. spandrel posts, said beams may be provided with hooked bars 16 engaging in eyes 14 on said spandrel posts and with bars 21 adapted to be connected by turn buckles 22 to bar 23 in the spandrel post, the beams being lowered into place and securedas above explained with reference to the joint at the lower end'of the spandr el post. Metallic projections 26 and 27 arealso provided on the spandrel post and on the beams extending into the space between said members and adapted to be embedded in the molded joint formed in said space to bind the parts together.

The bridge. is constructed as follows: The several arch beams 2, spandrel sections 3 and longitudinal beams 4and, 6' are molded in suitable molds in any convenient location, for example, .on the ground adjacent to the site of thebridgqbut not in sim. By this procedure, the expense incident to supporting the moldsin the position required for molding the bridge parts in their final position is eliminated and the expense of molding is alsoreduced by reason of the fact that the same mold elements may be used repeatedly for forming different elements of the bridge of the same form. For-the purpose of transporting and raising ,the

bridge elements into position, any devices,

such as traveling cranes may be employed.

The piers 1 of the bridge having been built or formed, thearch members 2 are raised into position on said piers and held in connection to form the arch spans during the completion "of. the span structure. The spandrel sections 3 are then raised into position. over the arch beams and lowered so as to bring the lower ends of, the spandrel posts 8 onto the horizontal seats 11 on the arch beams, the bolts 12 at the same time extending through: the holes 12 in the arch beams and the hooked members 16 on the spandrel sections descending through the eyes 14 on the arch beams. By then apply mg and screwing'up the nuts 13 and the turn buckles 22, the spandrel sections are held firmly in position on the arch beams 2 floor beams and temporary fl and serve to rigidly connect such beams.

To complete the connection, however, ant

plates, said bottom plate extendingobllquely trom the bottom oi the bower portion of the transverse member 10 to the inside of the arch beam The molding plates &4 are position by bolts 46 pasvng through perforations aforesaid in the spandrc tion and the bottom mold member orted by bolts as engaging the sa' plates. Concrete is then poured into the space 20 between the arch beam :2, the bottom of the spandrel section, the molding plates 4A and the bottom molding member 45, and this concrete, indicated :50, 'tilling the said space, gives a rigid connection be tween the parts and embeds the projecting rods 26 and 27, so that the spandrel sections are rigidly connected to the arched ribs as regards both tension and compression strains The spandrel sections having been secured in the manner above described. on thearch beams, the door beams t and curb beams 6 are placed on the top of spandrel sections and secured thereto by the bolts 31 and 81'. In case arch door beams used, as indicated in Fig. 6, they will be joined to the spandrel sections by a molded joint, as indicated in said figure, mold boards 4a and bottom plate as being secured in place by bolts 48 extending through holes 42 in the spandrel section posts and door beam spandrelmend cement beingpoured into the space between these mold members, the beam and, the spandrel sections.

It will be understood that in forming the molds tor pouring the cement at the joints, as above stated, between the spandrel sections and-the arch beams and between the the spandrel sections, suit able openings will be provided for admitting the cement. When the door beams have been secured, as abovestated, mold boards or platesindicated at 38 in Figs 1, 3, may be placed on the projecting flanges 37 and 36 on the floor l supported in beams 4; and euro beams 6 and the floor indicated at is then molded into position over the support or oor formed by these mold as indicated in i s. 6 and 7, temporary joists may be set on projections 54 of the floor beams and the mold boards 51 may be placed on said joists and the floor molded thereover. This completes he structure as regards the essential eh boards, or,

" ace ments and when the cement, applied as above stated, has properly set, the various mo d elements may be withdrawn, leaving the bridge as a substantially monolithic structare.

In case the bridge is of such width as to require more than two arch beams, for ex-. ample, intermediate beams, as indicated at 2, in Fig, 5, in addition to the outside beams 2. an intermediate sp'andrel section, as indicated at 55, I intermediate beams in similar manner 1 shove described for the spandrel sections 1, and ovtside spandrel posts 56 are provided on the outside beams and having exte ons from their lower ends j extending across to rest on arch beams 2. The intermediate spandrel. l section may be braced by diagonalbraces 64tentending between its vertical posts 65. The bottom men ber 58 of the central. spandrel section 55 and the bottom member 51 of the spandrel post 56 are joined to the beams by cement joints or fillings above described in the case 50, The upper ends of the andv of the central be provided with respective 59 applied, as of the fillings outside spandrcl posts 56 spandrel member 55 may lateral extensions or arch port-ions 60 secured together by a keystone means 61 which may be molded into place, reinforcing means, indicated at 62, 63, being pro vided on the members thus joined and being embedded in the fillings 59 and til to give the requisite strength to the'construction.

What .i claim. is:

l. in a reinforced concrete bridge, the combination of pret'ormed arch ribs, preformed spandrel sections resting on sai arch ribs and rigidly connected thereto, each spandrel section consisting of an integra-l section, the lower part of said spandrel section spanning a plurality of the arch ribs, and the upper part of said, spandrel section constituting a transverse tloor beam for the bridge, each spandrel section being provided with projecting metallic parts for connection with the respective floor beams j and arch ribs, preformed longitudinal floor beams resting on rel said transverse spand sections, said spandrel sections having me tallic projections extending through said floor beams, said projections being threaded, and nuts on said threaded projections engaging with the floor beams to secure the door beams to the spandrel sections.

2. in a reinforced concrete bridge, the combination of preformed arch ribs, preormed transverse spandrel sections restng on said arch ribs, each spandrel section consisting of an integral section, the lower part oi o'er-h spandrel section spanning a plurality of the arch ribs and the upper part of each spandrel section constituting a transverse floor beam for the bridge, said may be provided seated onthe intermediate 'into the said spaces,

tallic spandrel sections formed to leave intervenlng spaces between portions thereof and said arch ribs, metallic members embedded in and projecting from said arch ribs and spa-ndrel sections and extending means for rigidly con necting said metallic members, and fillings molded into the said spaces and embedding the said metallic members.

In a reinforced concrete bridge, the combination of preformed arch ribs, preformed transverse spandrel sections resting on said arch ribs, each spandrel section consisting of an integral section, the lower part of each spandrel section spanning a plurality of the arch ribs and the upper part of each spandrel section constituting a trans verse floor beam for the bridge, said spandrel sections being formed to leave intervening spaces between portions thereof and the adjacent portions of the arch ribs, mescrew threaded members embedded in and projecting from said arch ribs and spandrel sections and extending into said spaces, and turn-buckles screwing on said screw threaded members to connect the same, and fillings molded into the said recesses and embedding the said metallic screw threaded members.

4. In a concrete bridge construction, the combination of preformed arch ribs formed with horizontal seats,preformed transverse spandrel sections, each consisting of an integral sectlon, the

lower part of each spandrcl section spanning a plurality of the arch ribs and the upper part of each spandrel section constituting a transverse floor beam for the bridge, and each spandrel section having horizontal faces resting on said seats and downwardly into the having a transverse portion extending space between arch ribs and formed to leave intervc spaces between the said downwardly tending portion and the adjacent portions of the arch ribs, inc allic reinforcing in embedded in said arch ribs and sections, and projecting therej' spaces, lflltlllS screwing O11 $111k inforcing means to rigidly conn drel sections to said arch ribs, molded into said spaces for co spandrel sections to the arch ril In a concrete brid of ,preforincd arch r1 spandrel sections res spandrel ,section consisting section whose lower portion ity of arch ribs and whose r forms a transverse floor beam W preformed reinforced concrete floor beams resting on sfiidspandrel sections, reinforcing rods of metal running through said spandrel sections and floor beams and coir nected together, forming an articulate framework of metal, said spandrel sections being formed to leave intervening spaces between portions thereof and adjacent por tions of the arch ribs, and cen'ient mold d into said recesses to connect the arch .r and the spandrel sections toget In testimony whereof, I ha set my hand at Oceanside, Cal, 18th day of January, 1911.

lVlLLL -iitit .M. T

In presence of FRED HAYES,

Jenn GRIFFIN Hares. 

